Robert Lewandowski indicated the possibility of ending his career with the Polish national team after the team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which could mark the end of the cycle for the greatest scorer in the country’s history.
At 37 years old, the captain appeared dejected after the final whistle that confirmed Poland’s absence from the tournament, after the 3-2 defeat to Sweden, in the final of the qualifying playoff, on Tuesday.
Hours after , Lewandowski even published a photo leaving the field on social media, accompanied by the song “Time to Say Goodbye”, by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.
After the match, the player minimized the meaning of the publication and indicated that he had not yet made a definitive decision.
“I’m not in a position to make any statements. I’m going back to my club; I still have some matches to play. I’ll have to answer the question marks in my head on my own,” he told Polish media.
“As my career progresses, I value certain moments more,” he previously said during the playoff campaign. “I’m not afraid of ending my career because I’m starting to prepare for it… I know it’s a very important part of my life, but it’s not everything.”
Record holder even without participating in the World Cup
The elimination leaves the Barcelona striker facing the possibility of ending a record-breaking career without the , having returned to the national team in August following a disagreement with former coach Michal Probierz.
With the next four years away, the recent elimination represents a difficult chapter for the Warsaw-born striker, who has played for the national team since 2008.
Lewandowski has been captain since 2014 and continues to hold the record for games and goals for Poland, with 89 goals in 165 international matches.
